Retiree health benefits

After years of dedicated service to the people of Maryland give us back what we earned, our Part D Medicare Program, not financial assistance for one year, if we qualify. We are now being switched from group coverage to individual which is much more costly.

Our premium is less than $70 a month for two under Silver Scripts; this is group coverage with reasonable co-pays. After 35-plus years of service, I feel I have earned the benefit that was promised to me. I am sure there are a multitude of state retirees who are of the same opinion.

It would be important to grandfather those currently retired. If the state feels this action is necessary it should be reviewed by the up and coming legislature.

Despite the efforts and opposition of Gov. Larry Hogan's administration and the Maryland Department of Budget and Management to kill this bill, the 2018 General Assembly proceeded with this plan which is now state law.

As one might imagine this has caused a great deal of distress and concern regarding our health care (Prescription Plan) for those of us who are aging.

She tells me how wonderful UMMS hospitals and physicians are. I am well aware as each of my six children all received medical care through them. Two cases were life saving. The physicians, nurses, technicians at UMMS are top notch.

My column was not about them. It was about corporate heads at UMMS that see Anne Arundel Medical Center as a threat and make every attempt to frustrate AAMC’s efforts to address the needs of people in their region.

UMMS’ Board chose to challenge AAMC’s plan to have a Mental Health Facility. UMMS’ attempts cost AAMC an enormous amount of money to defend the need, money that would have gone to establishing the center.

UMMS’ Board has done the same thing in challenging AAMC’s need for a Cardiac care center. Each time they have challenged it, AAMC’s plan has been unanimously upheld.

So UMMS’s board decides to sue. They are well aware their suit will not win. They are also well aware they are costing AAMC millions with each challenge and lawsuit over these several years.

The point I was making is that UMMS’ board sees AAMC as a threat and over $300 million given by the state and by Anne Arundel citizens’ taxes to UMMS is in effect being used to sue the state and AAMC.

Oh, and I also stated that Hous Speaker Michael Busch is a member of the Board of Directors for UMMS. For Reynolds to say that Anne Arundel Medical Center won the cardiac care because Michael Busch kept politics out of the decision is not true. UMMS is playing politics.

Delaying costs lives. Busch and the rest of UMMS’ board must stop the lawsuit.

RON GEORGE

Annapolis

Editor’s Note: George is the Republican candidate for state Senate in District 30.